Guardian Camera Club: Jill Henry on summer events

1 In the Beginning. Revere Beach, north of Boston Massachusetts, is the oldest public beach in America. To this day, it remains true to its working class roots and is an ideal place to observe the American 'melting pot' ethos. Every July, Revere Beach holds a sand sculpting festival, attracting artists from the US, Canada and Mexico. Each sculptor gets 12 tons of sand and an 18X18 ft plot to work with. Only sand and water are allowed, and the contestants have 30 hours to produce their masterpiece Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr

2 Wings. Sue McGrew from Tacoma working on her piece Everyone has a Dark Side. I particularly like the anatomy books and the sketch pad that she has to hand. The artists are not using ordinary sand from the beach but a special kind that holds together well and is brought in from New Hampshire Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr

3 The Loving Touch. Mexican sculptor Benjamin Probanza makes sure his creation 'The Earth Cries' is picture perfect Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr

4 Framed. Benjamin Probanza again. Temperature was in the mid-thirties. A light rain actually strengthens the sculptures and is welcome, but thunderstorms can be damaging Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr

5 Race to the Finish. Competitors put the finishing touches to their creations on Friday afternoon - judging is on Saturday Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr

6 Angelic. Sue McGrew's sculpture came in second and also won the Sculptor's choice award. The sculptures will left on the beach where they will be allowed to decay naturally Photograph: Jill Henry/Flickr